After questions and discussion there was a 15-minute break,
‘The
meeting was resumed at 9:45 a.m.
The next presentation, on fuzing questions, bomb release methods,Fuzing
and the thermonuclear weapon program was made byMr. Re W, Henderson.
He reviewed the developments in fuzing strategie and tactical boubs.
In order to simplify field logistics, barometric fuzing (fuze A) was
substituted for the earlier radar fuzing in strategic weapons. A
gontact fuze is also used.
Fuze B, developed for tactical applications
of the MK-7 bomb has radar air burst, timer, and contact fuzes, With a
respect to the number of options (burst altitude,separation times,
ete,) which the tactical fuze should prosent to the pilot; operating —
experience and systems studies have indicated that the present seven
_ options should be reduced, When agreement on details has been reached,
the simplification will be applied across the board,
The problem of retarding trajectories in order to give the plane
Retarded
Trajec~
_ tories
time to get away was discussed. An air brake, dalled the Rotochute
:
and working on the autogyro principle, is being tested, On the MK-7'
it reduces the terminal velocity in drop tests from 1000 ft/sec to
270 ft/sec,
Mr. Henderson next discussed various carrying arrangements for
the MK~7 bomb (external versus bomb bay for supersonic delivery).
Nuclear safeing by a liquid is being considered as replacement for
the present chain safeing method,
:
cs